As remembered by George Patterson
from an album in the Knoxville public library in the '60's
one of the Childe ballads in the archives of
Folkway Recordings via Jean Ritchie

I heard George sing this (beautifully) many times and love
the song. The typical George Collins tune is very different from
the one he learned and transmitted to me.

----------------- "Young Colin" --------------

Colin came down from his fields one day
Trees and flowers were in bloom-Oh
And there he spied his own fair Ellen
She was washing a white marble stone-Oh

(something is missing here; instead of
stopping near Ellen, Colin goes down to
the sea, where he spies a Selkie or mermaid)

He called, he cried, then he changed his mind.
She called, and waved her hand-Oh
Here, come here, young Colin my dear
Your life is near at hand-Oh

He clasped around her slender waist,
Kissed both cheek and chin
Till the stars from heaven came a-tumblin' down
To the place where young Colin jumped in.

He ran till he came to his father's house,
He knocked on his father's door,
Said "Father, oh father, come let me in,
Come let me in once more."

"If I should die this very night
As I fear in my heart I will,
Bury me under that while marble stone
At the foot of fair Ellen's hill."

Fair Ellen sat in her cottage door
Sewin on silk so fine.
When there she spied his coffin a-comin
As far as her eyes could shine.

She ordered that coffin be opened right there
She gazed on his cold clay form
She took the last kiss from his cold clay lips
So often they'd kissed her before

She ordered her curtains be brought right there
And trimmed them in silk so fine
Said, "Today they'll week on young Colin's grave,
Tomorrow they'll grieve on mine."

And the news went 'round thru Dublin town
Twas printed on Dablin's gate
Six pretty fair maids did die last night
And twas for young Colin's fate.